Lifelong exposure to art leads to a focus on Vermeer
PLEASANT HILL, CA (Mar. 26, 2025) — Pleasant Hill resident Tom Anderson’s fascination with art began in childhood, nurtured by parents who instilled in their children a love for the visual arts.
His father’s career in the Navy meant that Tom moved frequently, attending high school in Italy, Virginia and Rhode Island. But it was during his years in Washington, D.C., between fifth and eighth grade that his deep connection to art took root.
His parents regularly took him and his siblings to museums. Their visits were brief but frequent – allowing the young Tom to develop an intimate familiarity with the great works housed in the capital’s galleries.
It was on one of these trips that Tom encountered “Woman Holding a Balance,” a painting by Johannes Vermeer at the National Gallery of Art. While most viewers might focus on the composition’s symbolism – its themes of judgment, wealth and introspection – the 13-year-old Tom was captivated by something far smaller: a nail in the wall. He questioned why Vermeer had placed it there, an artistic choice so trivial that few others would notice. This curiosity lingered, sparking a lifelong interest in Vermeer’s work.
A remarkable connection
As a college student at the University of Florida, Tom pursued a degree in biology, seemingly diverging from his artistic inclinations. Yet, in a humanities class, he encountered a remarkable connection – Vermeer’s close friendship with Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek, the Dutch scientist credited as the father of microbiology.
The two men were born in Delft within days of each other, baptized in the same church and later buried within the same city. Van Leeuwenhoek even served as the administrator of Vermeer’s will. The artist also used van Leeuwenhoek as a model in two of his paintings.
The revelation that a master painter and a pioneering scientist were so deeply intertwined resonated with Tom, bridging the divide between science and art.
His admiration for Vermeer deepened over time, and in 1995, a pivotal moment arrived. The National Gallery of Art curated an exhibition of 21 Vermeer paintings, the most comprehensive display of the artist’s work ever assembled up until that time. Experiencing them solidified Tom’s ambition: He would see every Vermeer painting in existence.
Over the years, he has done just that – traveling across Europe to immerse himself in Vermeer’s world.
While scholars often emphasize Vermeer’s masterful use of light, Tom is drawn to the stories hidden within the paintings. One of his most compelling interpretations challenges a widely accepted viewpoint of “Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window.” Long believed to depict a woman receiving a love letter, Tom argues that Vermeer has subtly indicated otherwise. Clues such as an overturned fruit bowl and a partially obscured Cupid painting suggest that this is, in fact, a breakup letter – adding a layer of emotional depth often overlooked.
Vermeer Stories
Tom has channeled his passion into a book, “Vermeer Stories,” which delves into the narratives embedded in Vermeer’s paintings rather than focusing on the artist’s biography or technique. Now in the process of seeking a literary agent, the Pleasant Hill resident hopes to bring “Vermeer Stories” to print, offering a fresh perspective on one of history’s most enigmatic painters.
Encouraged to share his insights with a wider audience, he began contributing to Daily Art Magazine, a European publication where his articles gained immediate recognition. One of his first pieces, an excerpt from his book, was ranked among the magazine’s top three articles of the week. Since then, he has published seven articles, five of which explore Vermeer’s storytelling artistry.
With a Ph.D. in physiology from UC Berkeley and a career spent building life science companies, his unconventional background may set him apart in the art world. But it is precisely this intersection of science and art – this shared curiosity about light, observation and detail – that makes his approach so compelling.
Through Vermeer’s work, Tom has uncovered not just artistic brilliance but a timeless connection between creativity and scientific inquiry. His journey reminds us that sometimes, the smallest details – like a tiny nail on a painted wall – can open the door to a lifetime of discovery.
Email comments to Julia O’Reilly at joreillyfineartgallery@gmail.com.
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Julia O'Reilly
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Istanbul, Turkey, Julia pursued her studies in Business and Economics at Istanbul University before immigrating to the United States in 1991. She furthered her education at Las Positas College, specializing in Interior Design, and eventually settled in Clayton, where she has resided for 29 years. In 2003, Julia began her career as a jewelry artist, earning recognition from Diablo Magazine as the Best of the East Bay Local Jewelry Designer in 2012. Since 2014, she has been involved with the Blackhawk Gallery in Danville, California, and became President of the Alamo Danville Artists Society in 2020. In 2022, she opened her own JOR Fine Art Gallery, and for the past two years, she has been actively contributing to the Art Community in Clayton, a passion she deeply cherishes.